Dancin with the Jersey Devil

Okay first off, I would like make a comment about last nights game. The set up and goal by Bill Guerin was really pretty. Kind of blocked that one out of my mind when I was writing my short post last night. I wanted to rectify that and now I have.

I am once again, writing this blog while I watch the game on a DVR relay.

Onto tonight. Trent Hunter will be sitting out the game with a Hip Flexor injury. He is day-to-day. Jeff Tambellini will dress for the first time in 7 games. Joey MacDonald is getting the start in goal tonight for the Islanders. Kevin Weekes gets the start in goal for the Devils.

Go-Go Gordon starts the 4th line as usual. Tambellini is playing on the 3rd line with Andy Hilbert and Frans Nielson. Beautiful setup from Blake Comeau to Radek Martinek to make the score 1-0 Islanders at 2:32. Brendan Witt gets the second assist. JMac lets one get by him, but keeps it from going into the net and Brendan Witt takes a penalty at about 7:45. Chris Campoli takes a high sticking penalty at about 8:00 giving NJ a two man advantage. Great work in front of the net by Bruno Gervais early on in the 5 on 3. Islanders kill the two penalties due a great save by JMac and few other nice ones. At 14:23, David Clarkson takes a high sticking penalty against Joe Callahan to give the Islanders a power play. The Islanders accomplish nothing and the power play looked stagnant. At 18:39, Zach Parise (Islanders Killer) scores his 33rd goal of the season to make the score 1-1. Great scoring attempt by Sean Bergenheim at 19:54 leads to a power play which could stretch 1:54 in the second period. Bergy looks great out on the ice so far tonight. Islanders get out shot 13-6, which is not good news.

Isles start the second period on the power play. I don't know if it is the trap, the lack of Hunter or just...the Islanders, but the power play has sucked tonight. Bobby Holik gets called for goaltender interference at 4:40. At 6:15, Kyle Okposo powers to the net past Bryce Slavador and scores a power play goal to make it 2-1 Islanders. Doug Weight goes to the locker room with what appears to be a knee injury from knee on knee contact with a Devil. At 10:09, Andy Hilbert takes a tripping penalty. Isles PK does good work under a lot of pressure. Upon leaving the penalty box, Hilbert collides with Comeau but both seem to be alright. A fantastic glove save by JMac along the left goal post was reviewed. Great replay footage by MSG+. Devils out shooting the Isles in the period 15-7 at 15:55. Bill Guerin takes a hooking penalty at 16:03. At 16:21, NJ Captain Jamie Langenbrunner scores a power play goal to tie the game at 2-2. After 2 periods the Islanders have been out shot 31-15.

A flurry of great sloppy Islanders chances in the first 30 seconds by the Islanders. At 11:47, Brendan Witt takes a tripping penalty. At 12:25 Parise scores a power play goal to make it 3-2 NJ. It's his second goal of the game and 34th of the season. At 15:57, JMac makes a great glove save in the upper right quadrant of the net. At 18:47, Jamie Langenbrunner gets an empty netter to make the score 4-2 NJ which is the final score.

The Islanders are out shot this game 50-25. That's a 2-1 ratio folks (for the mathematically challenged)! JMac was fantastic tonight. If not, it could have been a lot worse.

It is my lady Tricia's birthday Friday. You add that with Valentine's Day and I expect to be pretty busy this weekend. There will be no game post for the game on Saturday at 1:00 pm versus the Philadelphia Flyers.